OVIS Social

Resources for DACA and Undocumented Students

USCIS Resumes Processing DACA Renewals following Federal Court Order

On January 13, 2018 USCIS posted instructions for filing DACA renewals following a January 9, 2018 federal court order. According to the USCIS website, the agency will accept renewal applications for DACA recipients whose DACA expired on or after September 5, 2016. For individuals who previously received DACA, but whose DACA expired before September 5, 2016, DACA requests can be filed as a new request instead of a renewal. USCIS is not accepting new DACA applications from individuals who have never had DACA before. The National Immigration Law Center and United We Dream have prepared a set of FAQs on DACA Renewal Applications.

Federal Court Ruling on DACA

On January 9, 2018 the federal district court for the Northern District of California issued an order directing the government to partially maintain the DACA program. The decision orders the Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) to maintain the DACA program nationwide, with the following exceptions: new applications "need not be processed"; advance parole applications based on DACA do not have to be continued; and the government can exercise discretion in adjudicating renewal applications. The order instructs DHS to post notice that it will resume receiving DACA renewal applications. The agency updated its webpage on January 13, 2018.

On February 13, 2018 the Federal District Court in New York issued a nationwide preliminary injunction ordering the government to maintain the DACA program pursuant to the same terms and conditions that existed before the September 5, 2017 DACA rescission memo, subject to the same limitations of the January 9, 2018 injunction issued in the California District Court case.

Rescission of the DACA program

On September 5, 2017 the Attorney General announced the rescission of the DACA program. According to the Memorandum issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and accompanying FAQs, the agency will continue to adjudicate DACA requests that were filed with DHS by September 5, 2017. DHS will also accept applications for DACA renewals from beneficiaries whose current DACA benefits will expire between September 5, 2017 and March 5, 2018, so long as those requests are received by DHS by October 5, 2017. Two lawsuits have been filed challenging the rescission of the program.

On Sunday, October 8, 2017 the White House issued a summary of immigration policy priorities which it wants Congress to include in legislation to continue the DACA program. The list of priorities, detailed in additional outlines issued by the White House and published on its website, address border security measures, interior enforcement, the diversity lottery, and family and employment-based immigration.

OVIS will continue to monitor this major change in policy, and update our website as new information becomes available.

Dartmouth's statement in response to the decision to rescind DACA, as well as President' Hanlon's September 1, 2017 letter to President Trump concerning DACA can be found on the Office of the President website.

The Immigration Legal Resource Center has issued a helpful guide about what DACA students need to know about the end of DACA.

DREAM Act and DACA information and resources available on the web

OVIS Advocacy and Support

OVIS offers general support for undocumented students at Dartmouth, including DACA students and CoFIRED (the Dartmouth Coalition for Immigration Reform, Equality and DREAMers). CoFIRED is a Dartmouth College student organization dedicated to advancing the rights of undocumented students.

DACA students may contact OVIS by email, phone, or schedule an individual appointment. OVIS provides referrals to outside counsel for students interested in an individual consultations to review possible options for immigration benefits, including DACA and DACA renewals. OVIS also serves as the primary point of contact for departments and professional schools with questions related to undocumented students.

OVIS hosts annual information sessions for senior administrators across Dartmouth to ensure awareness and understanding of the issues faced by undocumented students. Through these meetings OVIS has created a network of individuals on campus who can be of assistance to students in their respective areas.

Legal Resources

Curran & Berger, LLPOVIS has engaged the services of Curran & Berger LLP in Northampton, MA to provide support and assistance to undocumented students on campus, including:

Workshops/information sessions on DACA and DACA renewals

Representation of individual students and their families (discounted attorney fees)

Catholic Charities New Hampshire Immigration and Refugee ServicesCatholic Charities helped to establish the UNH Law Immigration Clinic and supervises the Clinic’s work. Catholic Charities in conjunction with the Clinic provides support and guidance to individuals who cannot afford private assistance.https://www.cc-nh.org/immigrationrefugeePh (603) 889-9431

Resource for free or low-cost nonprofit immigration legal services providers across the U.S.

Community Resources

The Dean of the College website includes a listing of community resources available to assist students in need of resources and support.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) information and resources

The American Immigration Council provides a Fact Sheet and other helpful resources on TPS, a temporary immigration status provided to nationals of certain designated countries experiencing problems such as armed conflict or an environmental disaster that put them at risk if they were to return.

USCIS also maintains a TPS webpage with the list of designated countries, and a detailed description of the application process.

On November 20, 2017 U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the decision to terminate TPS for Haiti, with an effective date of July 22, 2019. On November 6, 2017, DHS announced its decision to terminate TPS designation for Nicaragua, effective January 5, 2019, and to extend TPS for Honduras for six months, to July 5, 2018 pending further review of that country's designation.